FLINT, MI -- Communication and understanding are the main courses for a free community dinner March 5 in Flint that brings together the three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Sadat Seyrek, outreach coordinator of Niagara Foundation, said the second annual dinner’s theme will focus on “stewardship in wealth, health and time.” It will emphasize strengthening friendship and understanding among Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

“I believe that we will be able to serve a variety of people coming from all ethnicities,” Seyrek said.

The dinner is not meant to be labeled a fundraiser or “just an event,” Seyrek said.

“Communication is the main key that will open the doors for everybody else, as long as we can create a nice atmosphere from people coming from different religions and backgrounds,” he said.

Seyrek said the dinner will be a place for people to exchange ideas, not to convert others to a certain religion or to furnish an "I’m right, you’re wrong" mentality.

“We would like to put the barriers down to see each other clearly,” Seyrek said. “We would like to listen and know more about each other, and have understanding for others.”

Fish, chicken and vegetarian options are on the menu. So far, Seyrek said 60 people have signed up for the dinner. Last year, when Mayor Dayne Walling provided closing remarks at the “hardship in difficult times” themed dinner, almost 80 people attended. Seyrek hopes to see 100 people this year.

Seyrek said the Niagara Foundation has been attempting to bring people together each year with its annual dinners in eight states across the country since 1997.

Near the end of the dinner, there will be a live water marbling performance – a tradition for Turkish people that Seyrek says is a different kind of art in which an artist makes a special solution of water and chemicals to create a colorful pattern.

“If we can reach out to more people in Flint, we would like to do that.”

State Rep. Woodrow Stanley, D-Flint, will provide the opening remarks at
the dinner of Abrahamic traditions Tuesday, March 5, at
Riverfront Banquet Center, 1 Riverfront Center W in Flint.

The dinner will be held from 6 to 9 p.m.

Other
speakers include Dr. Luay Alkotob of Flint Islamic Center, representing
the Muslim community; the Rev. Barbara Cavin of St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church of Flint, representing the Christian community; and Edward Powers
of Beth Israel of Flint representing the Jewish community.

To sign up for the dinner, click here or send an e-mail to flint@niagarafoundation.org.